The Toronto Blue Jays are still hanging around in the American League race, and that alone keeps the trade-deadline conversation alive. After coming within two outs of a World Series title last season, this year has been a mess of injuries and an offense that hasn’t done enough. Even so, Toronto sits within 4.5 games of the third Wild Card spot, and with the AL looking weak, the door is open for the Blue Jays to act like buyers.
That’s where the Mets enter the picture. New York has already made it clear that just about everyone is available, with a couple of younger players who have broken through this season and Juan Soto being the exceptions. And while plenty of fans would naturally connect Toronto to Bo Bichette, ESPN insider Jeff Passan pointed to a different Mets infielder as a possible fit: Francisco Lindor.
Passan tied the Blue Jays to Lindor because of Ross Atkins’ history with him. Back in 2011, Atkins was the Cleveland Indians’ vice president of player development, and he played a key role in the decision-making process that led to Lindor being drafted that year.
Lindor would give Toronto something it badly needs: a shortstop who can defend at a high level and actually impact the game at the plate. Passan put it plainly: "The production has been consistently awesome; like when Francisco Lindor is right, he's an annual 6 WAR player. He is a great defensive shortstop who hits about 30% more than league average."
If the Blue Jays really wanted to make that kind of move work, George Springer probably has to be part of the equation. He’s on an expiring contract, he’s having a down season, and Toronto is unlikely to bring back its 36-year-old DH. In that setup, Andrés Giménez could slide to second base, Ernie Clement could move to third, and Kazuma Okamoto could take over at DH while also giving Vladimir Guerrero Jr. occasional rest at first base.
On paper, that would give the Blue Jays one of the best defensive infields in the majors, while Lindor’s bat would upgrade the lineup over Springer’s aging production. But the price tag is where things get tricky.
Lindor turns 33 in November and still has six years left on the 10-year, $341 million deal he signed in 2021. Toronto would almost certainly have to absorb a big portion of that money and part with a premium prospect, with Arjun Nimmala mentioned as a possible centerpiece.
That’s the real dilemma for Atkins: does he take on a massive contract and move a near-MLB-ready prospect for a player who is in the worst season of his 12-year career? Lindor is hitting .220/.304/.390 with 23 runs, 6 home runs, and 15 RBIs, and he has appeared in only 43 of the Mets’ 100 games this season.
It would be a bold swing, and one that pushes Toronto well outside its usual comfort zone. But if the Blue Jays want to wake up an offense that has gone quiet, a star-level jolt may be exactly what they need.
In Other News...
Bo Bichette Just Added More Intrigue To Blue Jays Deadline Buzz
Bo Bichettes situation has become one of the more interesting subplots as the Mets move toward selling at the MLB trade deadline. The infielder is in the middle of a three-year deal with opt-outs after each season, and the combination of his contract structure and uneven performance has left the market trying to sort out what kind of value he really carries right now.
For the Blue Jays, it is the kind of name that naturally pulls attention back home, even without anything close to a resolution. Bichettes future is still unsettled, the Mets have not made any definitive move, and teams weighing a run at him are left to judge both the money and the uncertainty that come with it. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Face A Deadline Decision That Could Push Out A Fan Favorite
With the trade deadline closing in, the Blue Jays are in that awkward middle ground where the standings do not point cleanly toward a push or a teardown. At 46-53, Toronto has roster questions everywhere, and the next few weeks could determine whether the front office leans into the present, starts thinking more about next year, or settles somewhere in between.
Davis Schneider is one of the more interesting pieces caught in the squeeze. The versatile player who made such a memorable debut in 2023 has struggled badly at the plate this season, and with regular roles already spoken for by Daulton Varsho, George Springer and Andres Gimenez, there are fewer easy paths to steady at-bats. Add in the possibility of injured players returning and deadline moves changing the mix, and Schneiders place on the roster suddenly feels a lot less secure than it did not long ago. [Read more 🡒]